A batting allrounder and sprightly fielder, R Sathish's rise in domestic cricket was not straightforward. He grew up in a family with modest means but was fortunate to receive support to play cricket. Since training facilities in Trichy, his home town, were not up to scratch, he changed schools and had to cycle 20 kilometres to get there. After completing his engineering, he moved to Chennai to play league cricket and eventually made it to the Tamil Nadu team in the 2000-01 season. However, he failed to find a regular place in the squad and shifted to Assam in 2003. His batting flourished while playing for his adopted state team, averaging nearly 50 over two seasons. Ironically, he made his highest first-class score - 204* - against Tamil Nadu and was persuaded to return. Despite returning to his home state, he wasn't a regular in the squad and that prompted his decision to join the unsanctioned ICL, which gave him the recognition he never got as a first-class cricketer. He quit the ICL after two seasons and joined the exodus when the BCCI offered amnesty.

Sathish made sporadic appearances for Mumbai Indians and then Kings XI Punjab in the IPL before shoring up his game, courtesy a stint with Whalley Cricket Club in Lancashire. His fragmented career received a significant lift when he was named captain of the Tamil Nadu limited-overs sides in the 2014-15 season. The following season he scored an unbeaten 34 in a low-scoring one-day thriller against Uttar Pradesh, leading Tamil Nadu to their first Vijay Hazare semi-final in five years. That cameo did not miss the eye of Kolkata Knight Riders who bought him in the 2016 IPL auction.ESPNcricinfo staff April 2016